The role of libraries in education in Nigeria

Abstract

Successive governments in Nigeria in the last few decades have come up with different national education programme to improve the standard of education in the country. Unfortunately, none of these programmes seem to achieve the desired results. The major ingredient for the success of these programmes lies in the ability of the individuals to access and exploit quality information which translate to knowledge. Without information, national education plans remains idealistic and inclined towards failure. The relevance of library and information resources and services in the attainment of global education standard in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized. Libraries as institution saddled with the responsibility of catering for the information needs of the general public, play vital roles in the realization of these objectives. Libraries are seen as factors that firmly wedge together all the various aspects of education efforts in Nigeria. The paper dissected the conceptual clarifications, functions, and services of library and explicitly discussed the vital roles that libraries play in education. It emphasizes the fact that the library is one of the education facilities required to achieve sound education at any level of schooling system in Nigeria. Concluding, the paper holds that both the library and education are inseparable twins in that, one ceases to function well without the others. As library contributes significantly to the advancement of education and learning of all levels; range of variety of documentation and information resources and services that are capable of fostering educational excellence in Nigeria.